DataKind

DataKind provides data analysis and artificial intelligence tools to left-leaning causes and advocates for the use of these technologies.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Website: datakind.org
Founded:

2011

CEO:

Lauren Woodman

Location: Brooklyn, NY View on map
Tax ID: 46-4082076
Most Recent Filing: 2025
Budget (2025): Assets: $20,543,754 Revenue: $21,931,317 Expenses: $7,005,078

Contents

    DataKind issues reports 1 , participates in prominent conferences and events, 2 and partners with other left-leaning nonprofit and private sector organizations. 1 It claims to promote the knowledge and use of data science among underserved populations and those who have less technical expertise. 3

    Leadership

    DataKind was founded in 2011 by Jake Porway, 4 who served as its executive director until his resignation in December 2020. 5 In 2015, Porway described “an opportunity to use these same algorithms that we’re writing to boost profit, to instead boost social impact.” 6

    Lauren Woodman was named chief executive officer in 2021 7 after an interim tenure as executive director by DataKind’s former chief operating officer, Russata Buford. 8

    The organization lists around 20 current staff. Its board includes members from MasterCard, Microsoft, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, and the Overdeck Family Foundation. 9

    Activities

    Issues on which DataKind has engaged include refugee policy, 10 alleged racial discrimination in “stop and frisk” policing in New York City, 11 the California water crisis, 12  graduation rates in Dallas-area schools, 13 and “racial wealth equity.” 14

    DataKind staff often make presentations at national and international events, including the World Economic Forum. 15

    DataKind’s then-executive director Jake Porway signed a letter opposing President Donald Trump’s January 2017 executive order that restricted travel from certain countries to the United States, characterizing it as a “Muslim ban.” 16

    DataKind staff have served in Democratic presidential administrations, with chief program officer Afua Bruce serving on the Biden Department of Justice transition team in 2020, 17 and the organization’s advisor DJ Patil served as the Obama administration’s first-ever Chief Data Scientist in 2015. 18

    Funding

    DataKind experienced a steep drop-off in revenue between 2018 and 2019, with more than $18 million in revenue in 2018 and less than $9 million in 2019. 19 Tax forms for the Rockefeller Foundation reported $700,000 in donations or pledges to DataKind in 2020. 20 Google.org donated $1.1 million to DataKind in 2021, which it devoted to new programming. 21

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2025 $20,543,754 $21,931,317 $7,005,078 View
    2024 $5,801,273 $6,067,347 $6,407,440 View
    2023 $5,961,126 $3,530,181 $4,764,912 View
    2022 $7,052,955 $2,773,630 $4,112,264 View
    2021 $8,395,647 $1,734,115 $4,181,454 View
    2020 $13,654,245 $879,588 $3,684,727 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 28

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Lauren WoodmanCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER$241,500
    Caitlin AugustinVP, PRODUCT & PROGRAMS$234,372
    John HarnisherSR. DIR, PRODUCT AND PROGRAMS$227,265
    Lawrence KilroyVP, TECHNOLOGY$194,795
    Rachel WellsDIR, DATA SCIENCE, EDUCATION$157,103
    Sophia HarmsSR. MANAGER, TECHNOLOGY$154,512
    Yash SinghPLATFORM MNGR, U.S. COMMS PLATFORM$152,856
    Chris ChenetPRODUCT OWNER$152,737

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $46,383,717
    • Number of Grants: 95
    • Number of Funders: 43

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $14,190,4032025 Gates FoundationTo design, develop, and implement a Unified Data & Technology System that enhances data interoperability, supports institutions, and enables data-driven decision-making to strengthen holistic student supports and improve student success.
    $2,763,0002022 Mastercard Impact FundDATA FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
    $2,545,0002020 Mastercard Impact FundDATA FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
    $1,650,0002023 Mastercard Impact FundDATA FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
    $1,251,0002023 TIDES FOUNDATIONHEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
    $1,100,0002021 TIDES FOUNDATIONQUALITY EDUCATION
    $610,2782024 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $600,0002024 TIDES FOUNDATIONQUALITY EDUCATION
    $580,0002021 Conrad N. Hilton FoundationTo apply data science to improve interventions and support economic mobility for Opportunity Youth in Mombasa.
    $500,0002022 The Rockefeller FoundationGrant in support of leveraging data science and artificial intelligence that can impact inequity among underrepresented groups and climate work
    $392,9662022 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $300,0002025 Gates Foundationto test an approach for data transformation supporting education and standards organizations
    $275,0002024 The Schmidt Family FoundationAdvancing diversity and equity in the environmental movement
    $250,0002024 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT
    $250,0002024 Digital Harbor Foundation IncPROGRAM SUPPORT
    $250,0002023 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT
    $201,7172023 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $200,0002025 Gates Foundationto provide general operating support
    $150,0002024 The Rockefeller FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $150,0002022 Johnson & Johnson Foundation United States Inc
    $150,0002021 Johnson & Johnson Foundation United States Inc
    $150,0002020 The Chicago Community TrustGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $137,8202020 American Online Giving Foundation IncGeneral support
    $113,7802021 American Online Giving Foundation IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $50,0272021 LIVING GOODSDatakind harnesses the power of data science in the service of humanity by focusing its resources on strengthening the national and global impact of nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, governments and other charitable organizations.

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $288,835
    • Number of Grants: 12
    • Number of Recipients: 10

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $68,8352020 Multiple EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) RecipientsSupport of datadive & other programming
    $40,0002022 Multiple Europe RecipientsSUPPORT OF DATADIVES & OTHER PROGRAMMING
    $20,0002022 Bright Community Trust IncSUBGRANT TO SUPPORT DATA SCIENCE PROJECT
    $20,0002022 Center On Rural Innovation IncSUBGRANT TO SUPPORT DATA SCIENCE PROJECT
    $20,0002022 Complete College America IncSUBGRANT TO SUPPORT DATA SCIENCE PROJECT
    $20,0002022 Kiva MicrofundsSUBGRANT TO SUPPORT DATA SCIENCE PROJECT
    $20,0002022 UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGANSUBGRANT TO SUPPORT DATA SCIENCE PROJECT
    $10,0002023 Multiple Europe RecipientsSUPPORT OF DATADIVES & OTHER PROGRAMMING
    $10,0002023 Prosperity NowGOOGLE.ORG FUNDING
    $10,0002022 Grameen America IncDATA SCIENCE PROJECT UNDER GOOGLE.ORG FUNDING

    Contact InfluenceWatch to report errors, suggest edits, or provide tips for additional profiles.

    Contact Us

    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “Powering Public Data for Communities: Highlights from Virtual DataDive Report Back.” DataKind. April 12, 2021. https://www.datakind.org/blog/powering-public-data-for-communities-highlights-from-virtual-datadiver-report-back.
    2. “DataKind + Partners Address World Leaders at Davos as AI Takes Center Stage.” DataKind. February 2, 2023. https://www.datakind.org/blog/datakind-partners-address-world-leaders-at-davos-as-ai-takes-center-stage.
    3.  “Jake Porway: Want to Save the World? There’s an App for That.” National Geographic. June 13, 2012. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/jake-porway-want-save-world-theres-app.
    4. Corliss, David. “A Conversation with DataKind’s Executive Director, Jake Porway.” AMSTATNEWS. December 1, 2020. https://magazine.amstat.org/blog/2020/12/01/datakinds-jake-porway/.
    5. Porway, Jake. Twitter Post. December 10, 2020, 3:25 p.m. https://twitter.com/jakeporway/status/1337131458662699011.
    6. “Data Science for Social Good with Datakind’s Jake Porway.” YouTube. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE-f_3mLw6Q.
    7. [1] “Welcome Lauren Woodman, DataKind’s CEO.” DataKind. October 12, 2021. https://www.datakind.org/blog/welcome-lauren-woodman-datakinds-ceo.
    8. Celebrating Russatta Buford as DataKind’s Interim Director.” DataKind. February 10, 2021. https://www.datakind.org/blog/celebrating-russatta-buford-as-datakinds-interim-executive-director.
    9. “Our Team.” DataKind. DataKind. Accessed February 12, 2023. https://www.datakind.org/our-team.
    10. “Using Satellite Imagery to Generate Awareness and Funds for Refugees .” DataKind. DataKind, June 20, 2018. https://www.datakind.org/blog/using-satellite-imagery-to-generate-awareness-and-funds-for-refugees.
    11. “Jake Porway’s Data Without Borders.” PopTech. YouTube. 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjxn0IzImN4.
    12. “Forecasting Water Demand in California When Every Drop Counts.” DataKind. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.datakind.org/projects/forecasting-water-demand-in-california-when-every-drop-counts.
    13. “Bringing Data Science and Education Expertise Together to Advance Student Success in Dallas County.” DataKind. June 13, 2018. https://www.datakind.org/blog/bringing-data-science-and-education-expertise-together-to-advance-student-success-in-dallas-county.
    14. Advancing Racial Wealth Equity in the U.S.: DataKind Expands Partnership with Black Wealth Data Center.” DataKind. December 13, 2022. https://www.datakind.org/blog/advancing-racial-wealth-equity-in-the-us-datakind-expands-partnership-with-black-wealth-data-center.
    15. “Here’s How Data Science Can Help Solve Global Crises .” World Economic Forum. May 20, 2022. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/impact-data-science-can-help-solve-global-crises-but-only-if-we-deploy-it-on-the-front-lines/.
    16. “Social Entrepreneurs Urge Trump To Abandon Muslim Ban.” Ecosystem Marketplace. February 9, 2017. https://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/articles/social-entrepreneurs-urge-trump-to-abandon-muslim-ban/.
    17. Byrd, Aaron. “Biden Review Teams Include Many Former Tech Officials and Digital Service Members.” Nextgov. November 11, 2020. https://www.nextgov.com/it-modernization/2020/11/biden-review-teams-include-many-former-tech-officials-and-digital-service-members/169977/.
    18. The White House: President Barack Obama § (2015). https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/02/18/white-house-names-dr-dj-patil-first-us-chief-data-scientist.
    19. DataKind, Inc. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2019. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/464082076_202009_990_2021041417943862.pdf.
    20. The Rockefeller Foundation. Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File an Exempt Organization Return (Form 8868). 2020. Accessed February 12, 2023.  https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2022/01/rockefeller-foundation-2020-form-990.pdf.
    21. “DataKind Launches New Cohort of Projects to Advance Economic Empowerment with $1.1M in Support from Google.org.” DataKind. December 7, 2021. https://www.datakind.org/blog/datakind-launches-new-cohort-of-projects-to-advance-economic-empowerment-with-11m-in-support-from-go.